Learning from 2012

One of my habits is to reflect at year’s end for a whole day or two. So, on December 29, I parked at Starbucks and started listing the highlights of 2012, and the lessons learned from the hard times. Here are some of mine:

Highlights:

Recognized for the Family Advocacy Award by AMFT and celebrated with brunch at the Space Needle in Seattle.

Got life-coach certification from CoachNet

Began community workshops on leadership and personal development in the Tri-Cities

Became VP of professional development with the Mid-Columbia Leadership Development Association and the communications chair for the Mid-Columbia chapter of the Society of Human Resources Management

Lessons Learned:

If a leader doesn’t “lower the shields” and have vulnerable/real conversations about the “elephant in the room” issues, then top performing people will leave.

If you don’t make the necessary changes to grow the organization past the complaints/comfort zones of some, you will lose some good people who are looking for courageous leadership.

Ask feedback questions regularly to assess the strength of the relationship or else it will vanish without a trace.

What’s one highlight and one lesson learned for you in 2012?

About paul.casey

Executive Minister of Central Church, Richland, WA
Member of Northwest Christian Speakers Bureau
Former Family Pastor and Christian School Teacher/Administrator